Marvel Comics reveals the new Spider Man is black - and he could be gay in the future

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Marvel Comics reveals the new Spider Man is black - and he could be gay in the future
By DANIEL BATES
Last updated at 10:45 AM on 3rd August 2011

He started life as a white science geek living with his uncle.

But now to reflect the racial changes in America Spider Man has been given a makeover - as a half black half Latino teen.

Miles Morales has replaced Peter Parker as the face behind the famous webbed mask, Marvel Comics has revealed.

In the latest edition of the Ultimate Fallout series he pulls back the disguise and shows his face for the first time.

Fans will have to wait until the official Spider Man relaunch next month to find out how he came to be the superhero.

But another surprise could be in the pipeline after his creators said that in the future they would not rule out making him gay.

Peter Parker first appeared as the superhero in 1962 - having been bitten by a radioactive spider he found he developed the strength and agility of an arachnid.

He was killed off by the Green Goblin in June in a controversial move by Marvel which left fans aghast.

Morales was inspired to do good after learning of the death and in Ultimate Fallout issue four he dons the mask and gets into his first fight.

Marvel has revealed that he does have a connection to Parker in terms of how he got his powers but he will have different abilities beyond ‘Spider Sense’ and the ability to shoot webs out of his hands.

Parker's Aunt May and Gwen Stacy will also be in the plot to help him on his way to being a superhero.

'The theme is the same: With great power comes great responsibility,' Spider Man writer Brian Michael Bendis told USA Today.

'He's going to learn that. Then he has to figure out what that means.

'He's younger than Peter Parker, he's coming from a completely different background, a completely different world view.

'It's Peter Parker's death that inspires this kid to step up.'

Marvel's editor in chief Axel Alonso denied that having a black Spider Man was a publicity stunt.

What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who's reflective of our culture and diversity.

'As someone who grew up on a steady diet of 'Luke Cage, Hero For Hire' and 'Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu,' I am personally invested.

'This was a conscious decision. Here at Marvel, we pride ourselves on reflecting the real world in all its diversity.

'We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker.'

Italian artist Sara Pichelli, who designed Spider-Man's new look, added: 'Maybe sooner or later a black or gay - or both - hero will be considered something absolutely normal.’

Not everything in the world of Spider Man has changed, however.

The Ultimate imprint is separate from Marvel's other comics - where Parker is alive and well.

Ultimate exists in a parallel universe where entirely different realities can take place, Marvel said.